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Unit of study_

BADP2004: Building Technologies

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study exposes students to fundamentals of building technologies with emphasis on performance evaluation and materials. A strong focus will be given to the principles of designing and evaluating high-performance envelopes. This unit will also encourage students to develop an integrated understanding of the implications that materials and design solutions have on the technological aspects of architecture. Based on lectures and studio, this unit is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge needed to design and evaluate a building envelope performance. In particular, this unit of study will help students to understand and apply principles of building physics, envelope performance indicators, visualisation and effective communication of the project, building systems and technological detailing of building components. This unit will focus on teaching students how to design, specify and evaluate different building materials, including, but not limited to brick, concrete, steel and glass. Finally, students will also be exposed to relevant building code regulation and industry practice in Australia.

Unit details and rules

Unit code BADP2004
Academic unit Architecture
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
BDES1023
Corequisites
? 
BAEN2002
Assumed knowledge
? 

AWSS1002

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Arianna Brambilla, arianna.brambilla@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Technological projects
Written assessment with non-written elements
40% Week 07 To be added by the unit coordinator
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Exterior wall design
Case study
50% Week 11 To be added by the unit coordinator
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation Engagement with the learning activities
-
10% Week 12 -
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Technological projects: In the first 6 weeks of the semester, students will work during tutorials on 5 different tasks, with the supervision of the tutors.
  • Exterior wall design: Each group will apply the knowledge discussed in class to present a reliable and consistent technological solution for the project developed in BAEN2002. Students can propose a new design if they prefer, but no special consideration will be applied on the basis of the architectural design chosen.
  • New material proposition: Each group will design and develop an innovative building material. The assignment builds upon the knowledge about the different requirements and performance of different materials. Students will have to clearly define what they are designing, describe the “design mix”, the functions required, and the expected performance.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 02 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 03 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 04 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 05 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 06 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 07 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 08 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 09 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 10 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 11 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 12 lecture Online class (1 hr)  
tutorial Tutorial (2 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Ching, Francis DK Building System illustrated. Hoboken, Wiley 2014.
  • Deplazes, Andrea. Constructing Architecture: materials, processes, structures – A handbook. Basel, Birkhauser 2005.
  • Sandaker, Bjorn Normann and Arne Petter Eggen. The structural Basis of Architecture. New York, Whitney Library of Design 1992.
  • Watts A. Modern construction handbook, Zurich: Birkhäuser (2016).

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the principles of building technology (nomenclature and requirements)
  • LO2. understand the functional requirements and basic performance of the building envelope
  • LO3. understand the complexity of building technological design and be able to source correctly the additional consultation needed to resolve the design
  • LO4. detail a building envelope correctly
  • LO5. know the functional composition of the building envelope
  • LO6. understand the functional requirements of the main building material.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Additional costs

Please note that this unit of study involves additional costs for students for the model and printed drawing. The extent of this additional cost depends on the project.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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